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Lighting Menorah In A Shul

The Daily Halacha Moment - Lighting The Menorah In The Shul



״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

Why Do We Light The Menorah In Shul?

When Do We Light The Menorah In Shul?


Answer:

Chanukah lights are customarily kindled each night in the bet hakeneset and bet hamidrash as an expression of pirsumei nissa—the publicizing of the miracle. [1] This communal lighting is performed with the full recitation of the berachot. [2]

The lights should be lit after shkiyah, ideally between Minchah and Arvit, at a time when the congregation is present, so that the miracle is publicized to the greatest extent. [3] Nevertheless, no individual fulfills his personal obligation of lighting the Chanukah lights through the lighting in the bet hakeneset. Even the person who lights on behalf of the congregation and recites the berachot is required to light again in his home, with berachot, in order to fulfill the mitzvah properly. [4]

However, there is an important exception. If the individual lighting in the bet hakeneset is unmarried and will not be lighting on behalf of anyone else at home—other than himself—then when he lights at home after having already recited the berachot in the bet hakeneset, he should omit the berachot of SheHecheyanu and SheAsah Nissim. [5]


Adapted From R' Yonatan Nacsons "Laws Of The Holidays" With Additions.

Sources:

[1]. Shulchan Aruch and Rama 671:7. Yedei Chayim §7 explains that the custom of lighting the menorah in the synagogue as well is to show that the best way of remembering the miracle of Chanukah is through Hallel and appreciation. Lighting in the synagogue is also meant to encourage us to strengthen our prayers, through which we can bring the final redemption.

[2]. See Birkei Yosef 671:6; Zivchei Tzedek 2:25 and Ben Ish Chai, Vayeshev 1:11. See also Chazon Ovadia, Chanukah p. 42, which states that Chacham Ovadia would recite the berachah in the bet hakeneset, and then recite it again when he lit at home. 

[3]. See Mishnah Berurah 671:46, which explains that the lighting should not be done after Arvit since each person must hurry home to light his menorah, and it improper to detain everyone. See also Chazon Ovadia, Chanukah, p. 69; Yalkut Yosef, Chanukah, pages 212–216; and Ohr LeTzion, vol. 4, 42:12.

[4]. Rama 671:7; Mishnah Berurah §45; Ben Ish Chai, Vayeshev 1:11.

[5]. Ben Ish Chai, Vayeshev 1:11; Ohr LeTzion, vol. 4, 42:16; Chazon Ovadia, Chanukah, p. 53; Yalkut Yosef, Chanukah, p. 220.


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